Government targets 70% local medicine production as manufacturers seek funding
Government is targeting a significant increase in local medicine production, with an ambition to raise the country’s capacity from about 30 per cent to 70 per cent and reduce dependence on imported medicines.
Ghana is aiming to double its local medicine production, targeting 70% of medicines locally made to lessen reliance on imports. This shift is essential for enhancing medicine security and ensuring easier access to essential drugs. Dr Hafez Adam Taher, Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, highlighted that the nation currently imports more than 70% of its medicines, making it susceptible to external supply disruptions.
He emphasized the importance of medicine security, which involves guaranteeing affordable, safe, and effective medicines at the right time. The government is committed to bolstering local pharmaceutical production, including plans for a pharmaceutical innovation park with shared utilities and centralized quality-control labs to assist manufacturers.
However, Kinapharma Limited's Managing Director, Kofi Nsiah Opoku, pointed out that limited funding is a significant hurdle to expanding the industry. He explained that local manufacturers are currently producing basic pharmaceuticals like tablets and capsules but are striving to develop more complex products such as vaccines and injectables.
The Presidential Coordinator for the Ghana Pharmaceutical Hub, Dr Bernice Makafui Brempong, stated the goal to shift the production-import balance from 30% production to 70% local production, reducing imports. She stressed the need for stronger collaboration between government, industry, and professional bodies to achieve this target.
The discussions on advancing medicine security in Ghana through local production, regulatory excellence, and health system strengthening took place at the WAPCP Ghana Chapter's Annual General Meeting, held under the theme "Advancing Medicine Security in Ghana Through Local Production, Regulatory Excellence and Health System Strengthening Towards Universal Health Coverage."
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
